Prank Records


Prank Records is a hardcore punk record label based in San Francisco, California. They began in 1995, releasing hardcore punk bands on vinyl and in CD format, with over 90 releases. Started by former Auburn University WEGL 91.1 FM radio DJ, Maximum Rock and Roll columnist and reviewer, former 924 Gilman Street booker and long-time Mordam Records employee Ken Sanderson. Modeling the label after classic 1980's punk labels like Pusmort and Over The Top, it focuses on its local Bay Area punk scene, as well as the owner's native Southeast and points around the globe.
In 1995, Prank hosted the first Japanese hardcore band to tour in the US, a brief mini-tour by Tokyo band Assfort, which paved the way for multiple visits of Japanese hardcore bands to the US, including one the following year by Gauze. The next year, the band began its association with southerners His Hero Is Gone and Damad, whose dark, low end distorted records for the label helped affix "the Prank sound." In 1997 and 1998, Prank hosted two "Prank fest" Festivals in Atlanta, Georgia, showcasing the strong Southeast punk scene and bands associated with the label. This festival was revised and relocated in 2004 to Austin, Texas and morphed in subsequent years into the "Chaos In Tejas" festival.

Bands

The complete catalog: